PSC B539

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) is a standardized taxonomy the U.S. federal government uses to classify the goods and services it procures. PSCs support consistent reporting and analysis of contract actions in government systems, enabling agencies to track what is purchased across programs and time. The PSC structure and definitions are maintained in the official PSC Manual and used in Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) reporting. ¹

PSC B539 is defined in the PSC Manual under Service Category B (Special Studies/Analysis, not R&D) as “Special Studies/Analysis – Aeronautical/Space.” It is used when the predominant requirement is an analytical study or assessment in aeronautics or space domains, rather than research and development. The PSC is recorded on each applicable contract action and must reflect the predominant service bought. ¹

What this PSC covers

• Non‑R&D special studies and analysis services focused on aeronautical or space topics, as specified by the PSC Manual. ¹
• Use when the primary requirement is analytical (study, assessment, evaluation) rather than research, design, development, or experimental work. ¹
• Applies when the statement of work centers on aeronautical/space subject matter and the analysis is the predominant contract value. ¹
• Selection should follow PSC Manual guidance to code the predominant product/service purchased for the action. ¹
• Additional includes/excludes notes, examples, or standard deliverables for B539 — Not specified by official sources. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
PSC	B538	Special Studies/Analysis – Intelligence 1
PSC	B540	Special Studies/Analysis – Building Technology 1
PSC	B541	Special Studies/Analysis – Defense 1
PSC	B543	Special Studies/Analysis – Energy 1

Coding guidance and FPDS reporting

• In FPDS, the PSC is mandatory data element 8A and must be a valid code from the PSC Manual; report the code that best represents the majority of the ultimate contract value. ³
• The PSC Manual states PSCs indicate “WHAT” was bought and should be selected based on the predominant service when multiple items are involved. ¹
• Contract opportunities and awards data are discoverable and filterable by PSC; FPDS remains the authoritative award data source during migration to SAM.gov. ⁴

Distinguishing B539 from Space R&D PSCs

• B539 is expressly “Special Studies/Analysis, Not R&D.” Space‑related research and development is coded under the Space R&D PSC family (AR‑series), which covers basic, applied, and experimental development. When the work is R&D rather than a non‑R&D analytical study, use the appropriate AR‑series code instead. ¹

Frequently asked questions

• What does PSC B539 cover?

  • It covers non‑R&D special studies and analysis in aeronautical and space domains, as defined in the PSC Manual under Category B5. The descriptor in the manual is “Special Studies/Analysis – Aeronautical/Space.” ¹

• How is B539 recorded in federal reporting?

  • Agencies record the PSC in FPDS data element 8A for each contract action. FPDS defines PSC as the code that best identifies the product or service procured and requires selection of a valid PSC manual code. ³

• When should B539 be used instead of a Space R&D (AR‑series) PSC?

  • Use B539 when the requirement is a non‑R&D analytical study or assessment. If the work involves research (basic or applied) or experimental development in space topics, select the relevant AR‑series R&D PSC instead. ¹

• Is there an official PSC‑to‑NAICS crosswalk for B539?

  • Not specified by official sources ²

• Can opportunities be searched by PSC on SAM.gov?

  • Yes. SAM.gov help resources include guidance and videos on searching opportunities by NAICS or PSC, enabling users to filter notices using the PSC field. ⁴

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC B539 overview
• PSC Manual (April 2025 edition), including B‑category service codes and B539 definition. ¹
• PSC Manual landing page (downloads for current/archived manuals and spreadsheets). ²
• FPDS Glossary entry for “Product or Service Code” (element 8A). ³
• SAM.gov Help — includes training on searching opportunities by NAICS or PSC. ⁴

References

1. Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual April 2025 (PDF). https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
2. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual (landing page). https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
3. FPDS — Glossary: Product or Service Code (Element 8A). https://www.fpds.gov/help/Glossary.htm
4. SAM.gov — Help (includes “Video: Search opportunities by NAICS or PSC”). https://sam.gov/content/help